Automatic control for internal-combustion engines



Feb. 10, 1931. 1'. L. FITZPATRICK AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR INTERNAL COIBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. 14, 1927 2 Sheets-*Sheet 1 Feb. 10,1931. 1. L. FITZPATRICK 1,791,519

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FDR INTERNAL COIBUSTION ENGINES 7 mad Oct; 14. 1927 2 sheets-shun 2 V7 I 1a I Im/enlfor Homer; L. figmzbi irtmigrr Patented F b. 10,1931

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f auromn'iiici oon'rzaon inTER vAneooianUsrron v, i

' lipp ifcafi fiied ather 14, 1927; 's ri i mine-2281i: I

The invention relates tofan improved auto'- matic'controlfor internal combustion engines e'spe'cially such; as are usedon' automoblles, an

ob'ject otthe inventionbeing to provid'eqa simple "and eflicient deviceof'thischaracter whereby fuel fors'aid-engine-is automatically controlled by the ascent or descent of a grade by said automobile. j f p Anotherobject of the invention is toproride-such a control for an automobile engine which is unafie'c'ted-bythe vibrationor' mo tion ofthe automobile and is alsosufiiciently e variousconflexible in operation to meet t ditio'ns aris ng.

1 The invention will be best understood by reference to the acccimpanying drawings: a part of this specification and in;

formingwhich 'l Fig. 1 is a partial side View; with portions broken away, of the-forward portion of; an.

automobile equipped with a device {embody} ing-theiinvention; V 1 n Fig 2e11, enlarged Vertical section taken'through a control tank employed in the construction;

cover thereof removed; I

Fig. 4 a sectional-v ew takensubstantially Online 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 a View a righ flllglesltoiiFig Liana Fig. 6 a View Similar to the parts in inclined positions such as are assumed in ascending a grade. 7 1

I The preferred form of construction as. illustrated inthe drawings comprises the Another object of the invention is to v vide a device of this character byijineans of which the engine is automatically controlled Fig; 3 a top pl in view of said tank with the usual manner withth'e usual carburetor-'13.

Asuitabl'e liquid'ftank or container is mounted upon the engineblock '11, and pro vided with aremovable covers 16; The-tank 15 co1 1'stitutes a control tank and contains a suitable amount ofrliquid, preferably plain water inthe summer time and a non-freezing mixture of'water in the'wint'er time infreezingclimatesi r I v Two tubular guide members 17 and-18 are arranged: in the tank 15 proje'cting upwardly from: the" :bottom thereof, .1 the forward guide member 17 being cylindrical inform and the rear guide member 1'8 being'upwardly taper ing' in forInJ-The usual'op'eratingarm-21 V mounted atthe lower end of the usual throttle lever 22 of the automobile is connected-by as flexible-wire, or cable 23, running over'a guide pulley 24-011 a bracket 25 on the carburetor- I v casing 13 with a float 29 in the ,control tank: 15; The Wire or cable 23 extends upwardlythrough-the guide tube 17 and is-provided at its upper end with aloop or" eyelet '26 connected with a pair of cross wires 27 which have their ends secured in suitable lugs=28 provided around the upper periphery of the float 29. This connection provides auniversal flexible connection" between the float 29 and the wire 23 'Which'permits' the float to adjust itself to any desiredposition of the tank'15 without placing undue strain'or binding: action on the cable or wirer23. i The float 29 isoii' suflicient size to'eflecta comparatively large displacement of the liquid in tank 15 when depressed therein, so that depression of said float materially raises the level of'the liquid in Said tank, The float 29 is alsoof suflicient height so that -;it;will reach the bot tom of said tank before the liquid flows over; the top of said float, thereby preventing acci dental or unintentionalescape of the liquid through the hollow center of the float. The hollow center of the float is provided to permit free upward and downward movement thereof on the guide member 17; By this arrangement: it will be noted that operation I will be noted that when tlie level-ofliquid in tank is raised as indicated ab.ov,e, anv 1119:.- ward thrust will be 'exeitedon' float 33 "and this upward thrust willelevate the end of to the clutchpedal 51 through a: SlOfElIlCl'PlIl' opening 34 is slidably mounted on the guide member 18. The float 33 is provided with se-- curing lugs 35 at its upper edges and crossed.

wires 36 having a universal flexible connec-- tion with wire 37 passing downwardly through the tube 18. The other end of, wire 37 is secured .to one side ofthelever arm 41 operativelyfconnected as indicated with the throttle or butterfly valve 42 located in the intake of the-engine. By this arrangement it lever, arm 41 and thus operate the throttle valve 42 to controlthe loperation of theengine inthe' usual way. In this way a flexible control for theengine is provided which will gradually change the speed of the engine and thus prevent sudden variations therein and consequent shocks an'dj ars tothe automobile. It will alsobe noted that the operator can set his throttlelever tofadmit the desired amount of fuel to the engine at any desired speed.

-A number of baflie plate'sor partitions 43 are mounted intlie tank 15 between the floats therein" and aroundjthe, float 33', said partitions or balfle plates being: provided with openings 44 caused by striking ribs orprojections 45 therefroml: These perforated partitionsor-bafiieplateshave a tendency to maintain the liquid'inthe tank 15 in a sub.- st'antiallysmotionless state' during operation ofthe automobile and therefore aflec'ted only by the operation of the floats therein. This tends toinsure'uniformity of operation of the'dev'ice. 1

- 1 In order to provide an automatic connec tioniwit-h" the clutch of the; automobile I pro-. vide a push rod 50, h avingone end connected connect-ionv52, and its forward end slidably mounted in'the bracket'53 on the carburetor 13. The forward .end of the pushrod 50' can.

ries a cam member54 having an inclined forward end,j as shown, and engagingxunder a,

roller- 55 on theend of tlielever arm '56 of the. throttle valve control lever mentioned above- The lower: portion 57 0f said cam member operates through theguide'bracket53, as shownfand whereby said camYmeinber is guided during its operation. The push rod position for feeding gas to the engine under driving conditions. 1

In Fig. 6 of the drawingsl have shown the position assumed by the parts when. the automobile is ascending a grade. This causes the liquid to flow into the rear portion of the tank 15 thereby raising the level at thispoint and causing the float 33 to rise andopenthe throttle valve 42 thereby supplying increased fuel to the engine on an up grade. The reverse action takes place on the down grade thereby conserving fuel when not needed. In 7 this manner it will"be*noted-that the fuel supply will be. automatically controlled by the inclination ofthe automobile in ascending orv descending a grade,;thus eliminating necessity; of. manual control under such circumstances; Itwill also be noted that the necesv sity-of afoot accelerator isdispensed with,

thereby leaving the right foot of the operator free for manipulation of the foot brake if.

desired. Thishas-a tendency to facilitate starting of the automobile on up gradesand eliminates shocks and'jars under. such circumstances thereby lengthening the life of the working parts ofthe automobile.

' W hilel have illustrated and" described thepreferredform of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details disclosed: but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications, as come" within the scope fthe appendedclaims.

a throttle leverpof a; oat, operable yieldable connection between saidlever and said valve.

. .2. Thecombination qwith-an internal.com-,

bustion engine having a r tli-rottl-e valve and throttle lever,;of a liquidgcontainingtank; a

float in said-tank means connected with said throttle leve'r -for yarying the-level of liquid in said tank; and an operative connection; between said float and said throttle valve;

7 3. The combination with an internalcombustionengine havinga throttlevalve and a throttle lever, of a liquid containing tank; afloat in said tank; a second float in said tank of a size'to raise the level of liquid upon depression therein e anoperative: connection between said second float and said throttle lever; and an operative connection between said float and said throttle valve. f v

4c. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a i throttle valve and a throttle lever; of a liquid containing-tank, afloatin said tank,'a second float in said tank of a size to raise the level of liquid. uponv forated partition in said tank between said I floats V i 5. Thejcombination with an internal combustion engine comprising an engine block, a carburetor, a throttle valve and a throttle lever, of a liquid containing tank mounted upon said engine block a float in said tank operatively connected with said throttle lever and of a size to raise the level of said liquid in said tank upon depression therein,-and a second float in said tank operatively'oonnected with said throttle lever;

6. The combination With an internal combustion engine comprising an engine block, a carburetor, a throttle valve and a throttle lever, of a liquid containing tank mounted upon said engine block, a float in said tank operatively connected with said throttlelever i and of a size to raise the level of said liquid in said tank upon depression therein; a sec-j 0nd float in saidtankoperatively connected YVis.

with said throttle lever; and a perforated partition in said tank between said floats;

.In testimony whereof I aflix my signature at 505 Plankington Building, Milwaukee,

THOMAS LJFITZPATRICK; 

